Schoharie County residents get the chance Monday to comment on what could be a painful 2009 budget.
Supervisors will open the public hearing on the $62.6 million spending plan at 10am Monday in the Supervisors’ chambers on the third floor of the county office building on Main Street in Schoharie.
County Treasurer Bill Cherry has heard some concerns from taxpayers but is not sure whether there will be a big crowd at the hearing.
“It’s hard to say,” Mr. Cherry said last week.
Most of the people who have spoken to him about the budget are from the three towns, Seward, Carlisle or Sharon, where tax rates could go up by as much as 23.9 percent for next year because of changes in the state’s equalization rates.
According to the proposed budget presented by Mr. Cherry last month, the county tax rate could go up by 3.2 percent in what Mr. Cherry described as a “bare bones” budget.
The county is looking at a very difficult budget process this year, Mr. Cherry said.
The proposed budget is holding the line on spending but the state is cutting reimbursements to county and other revenues are flat, he said.
Supervisors “will have to make some tough decisions,” he said.
The state legislature, Mr. Cherry added, is expected to meet again in mid-November and “without a doubt, Governor Paterson will include further cuts in spending.”
In addition, county officials found out last month that they will not be buying electricity from a new--and cheaper—provider. Also, the county’s sales tax revenue check was $350,000 lower than expected in October.
Mr. Cherry said he will not know until the end of this month whether the drop in the sales tax revenue was a fluke or a trend.
Mr. Cherry said he has not heard much negative comment about the budget, outside of the tax rate jump in Sharon, Seward and Carlisle.
“I think most members of the public realize that the county budget I presented does not increase programs or spending,” he said.
He said he believes that the state made “a gross error” in the equalization rate in the three towns which could see the biggest tax rate increase.
Mr. Cherry said he has heard complaints from residents in those towns but added that he does not set the equalization rates.
“I’m only the messenger.”
Mr. Cherry said he does expect some members of several organizations to speak to the county board about funding, including members of the Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber officials have asked for a large increase in funding but it was not included in the budget draft, Mr. Cherry said.
Members of finance committee are expected to begin work on the budget soon.